Long-term LNG prices, which are typically indexed against
oil at a slope of around 15% of Brent crude plus a premium, are
averaging over $17.00/MMBtu in line with strong oil prices,
according to traders.

"[T]he start-up of new LNG import facilities in China, Singapore,
Malaysia and South Korea may provide a boost for Asian spot
prices as we move closer to the fourth quarter," JBC Energy
research said earlier this week.

It said China alone is set to add three new import terminals
with combined capacity of almost 10 million tons before the end
of this year, taking the country's import capacity to more than
30 million tons.

The spot LNG market in Asia has been tight this year because
of supply constraints. Algeria's Skikda and Angola's Luanda gas
projects were the only new projects to start production, while
higher gas output in Australia offset the decline in Indonesian
gas exports.

"With no further liquefaction capacity additions scheduled
until the second half of 2014, we expect global LNG supply to
remain broadly unchanged in 2013," Barclays said in a note.

The bank expects four liquefaction projects--for exporting gas--to
start next year with a combined capacity of 2.5 billion cubic
feet/day, boosting LNG supply. However, regasification or
import capacity growth next year is expected at 2.8 billion
cubic feet/day, with all terminals but one located in Asia.

"The supply growth we project next year should be easily
absorbed and we do not expect supply-demand balances to loosen
significantly," Barclays said.

Japan and Korea, the world's largest LNG importers, roughly
account for half of the global LNG demand and are expected to
continue pulling the bulk of LNG cargoes as their nuclear power
plants remain offline.

North Asian LNG markets will also move from the current
post-summer season to peak winter demand, which is generally
bullish for LNG prices.

However, given that LNG prices failed to surge despite
unexpected supply shortages and a recent heat wave this year,
peak winter demand may also fail to boost LNG premiums.

"Asian demand is peaking right now, but the added weather
stimulus is coming too late in the season to produce a
large-scale buying panic in the already tepid market," PIRA
Energy said in a recent report.

Dow Jones Newswires

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